Sketch of Harald Kamph by Carl Gustav Kamph

This is a sketch of Nana's Uncle Harald done by Carl Gustav Kamph, Nana's father. This is what is written on the posterboard by my father, Robert Dillon, about his great-uncle:

Carl G. Kamph delineated this likeness of his brother (Just prior to 1900.?) It's not known whether this is Harald or August. Neither of them went to America, but stayed in Denmark.
I would guess it was Harald, since he'd be the brother most likely to visit America. His two children, "Cousin Eda" and Gustav Kamph, were living at that time in the New York Metropolitan area. Still, it's only a guess, although Mother (Nana) identified this as "one of his brother", and he had two."


I am wondering if Nana was named Augusta after one of Carl's brothers?

Program from Welcome Home Ceremony for Uncle Jack Dillon

This is a 12 page program booklet from the welcoming ceremonies for Uncle Jack Dillon's return from WWI. The date on the cover is Friday, May 2, 1919. The photo captions indicate that the USS Pontiac, pictured in the top photo, went out to greet the arriving battalion but they weren't there. The lower photo shows them arriving on the USS Texan. The next page gives the "Program of Welcome" for the 27th and 28th of April and the 2nd of May. "See the Smiles!" on the following page is a poem dedicated to the troops and, at the bottom, is listed the particular type of dance for each of the 10 songs to be played. The "History of the Battalion" tells of their role in WWI on two pages and the following page is the "Commendation" given to the battalion by E. Russel, Brigadier-General, C.S.O. Under "Personnel of the 407th Telegraph Battalion, Signal Corps, U.S.A." on the next pages, you will find our own Uncle Jack Dillon listed under Company E in both the original unit and the present unit. In the "Promotions in Rank" on the last page, you will see Uncle Jack listed as promoted to Sergeant. NOTE: The photos posted with the first pages at the bottom of the series, so read them from the bottom up!

John Timothy Dillon, Jr. Uncle Jack

This is a photo of Dad's brother, John Timothy Dillon, Jr., known as Uncle Jack to my father. My father wrote the following on the bottom of the card holding the photo:

John Timothy Dillon, Jr.
1895-1959
Brother of Frank and Edna Dillon
Married Anna Carton in 1923
Father of Kenneth and Jacklyn
A New Rochelle resident all his life.
Godfather to Robert W. Dillon
Served in France and Germany during the First World War as a Sergeant in Company E of the 407th Telegraph Battalion of the U.S. Army (American Expeditionary Forces)

Grocery Bill from 1903

This is a grocery bill from 1903 on the account of Timothy Dillon. Typically, he stopped in often, as there were limited preservative for food in those days. He certainly was a smoker as he often stopped in for tobacco. He would have been approximately 92 at the time. I would suppose that the account was in the name of the male head of household but that his daughters or son were the ones purchasing items. It was an interesting bit of trivia to find all folded up in old photos.

The Children of Timothy and Maria Murray Dillon

Robert Dillon wrote the following on the back of this photo:

           "As near as I can tell, this picture must have been taken in about 1899. Matthias Cuddy, the young man up in the rear, was born in 1877, so he looks the right age. Another photo in this set shows him wearing britches. This indicated, however, not that he was of school boy age, but that he and the two young ladies with big featherd hats were out cycling that day.
            The two mature ladies in the group were spinster aunts of Matt Cuddy, and Bill Dillon, in the derby, was Matt's uncle.
             Nora Dillon, one of the sisters of Bill, has her arms folded in this picture. She was born in 1858 and, being as she was a talented dressmaker in trade and in great demand, she would be modishly attired at any time. The 'leg of mutton sleeves', all the rage in the nineties, and her feathered ladies fedora hat, shown in another shot,can pretty accurately identify the time. See the fedora on the grass!
            Elizabeth Dillon, the other sister, was the baby of the family. Her job was sort of a kitchen slavey, stayed home all the time. She was born in 1866 and died in 1956.
             Another sister, Sarah, appears in none of these photos, so perhaps she was operating the camera. Sarah, whom I alway call "Aunt", not "Aunt Sarah", was the one who was the head of the household, in actuality! The nominal head of the household was their father Timothy, who must have been away that day. Timothy Dillon was born in 1811, when Napoleon was in his prime, and died in 1906, the year the radio tube was patented.
             Bill Dillon's hat seems more the style of ten years previously- I could be wrong about this! - But the sides of the brim seem to be rather tightly curled for 1899.
             These four, Bill, Elizabeth, Nora and Sarah, never married. The oldest sister Mary did. She was Matt's mother. And the other brother, John, married. He was my grandfather. If this is actually 1899, then their cousin Michael J. Dillon was just elected the first mayor of New Rochelle, N.Y.
            I dearly loved the four people, the brother and sisters. But none so much as "Aunt". She died in 1932, when I was 15 and a half, and I was much saddened.
            Tim's children: Mary, 1855-1914
                                     Sarah, 1856-1932
                                     Nora, 1858-1928
                                     Bill, 1859-1935
                                     John, 1861-1945
                                     Elizabeth, 1866-1956"

signed RWD

The Old Homestead home of Timothy Dillon and Maria Murray Dillon

 On the back of this photo, my father, Robert Dillon, had written the following:
                    
                        "The Old Homestead"- Pelham Road, New Rochelle, N.Y. This is the rear
                          view that looked out on the garden, boat yard, dock, outdoor privies and hen
                          house. "The Old Homestead" was the home of Frank Dillon's aunts & uncle.
                          He spent a great deal of time there, though he never lived there. This picture
                          shows the house in 1899. It had been rebuilt, or added to, by Valentine Doern,
                          carpenter contractor, in 1887 (see existing contract in Bob Dillon's possession).
                          House was sold to a stranger in mid-1940's."

I did not find the contract my father references in his notes.

Frank Murray's Civil War letter of 1861

Frank Murray’s letter of 1861, transcribed by Stevie Dillon Weimer with assistance from Laura Dillon Lawson…

Old Pint (point) Comfor (Comfort)
Saterday June the 15 1861

My Dear
Brother (brother-in-law) tim
as I promist you that wan (want) to write to you I now take my pen to do So// hoping fine (find) you and Marrah (Maria Murray, his sister) and the children are good heth (health) as this leves (leaves) me at this time// I would rite (write) to you Sooner only I could not get paper to do So//But now I have these as there was a Bar of tabacco and paper sent to us and I got more sent to me By Sister Sarahs man// tim (I) will tell you a littel about Soldiers life as I have not merited to Send you only old news about the fite (fight)// Well we are in compt (encamped) on old Pint Comfort within one mile of fortress monrun (Ft. Monroe)// there is abought (about) 13 thousand troops men here now// about seven thousand of them is in camps and the others is in the fortress// we are in campt in a field of oats// I never had one whtch (which, meaning one day that...) of my cloak off at nite// our grub is ruff but a nought (enough) of it to satisfy me// we had a brush with the enemy only last monday whtch I suppose you herd (heard) of it long ago// it lasted 3 oures (hours) and was anugley (an ugly) one// we had to march 40 miles on that day// we felt it as the Sun was verrey warm and had no water fit to drink and nothing but crackers// and Same (some) not that// I faired purtey (pretty) well as I was furst out to set fire to a rebel house that fire (fired, shot) at us on our journey// I gots one shot at him and then enterd his house// and I tell you tim I plade (played) thornton on his piano (must be some expression for wreaking havoc) with the but of my musket// and then tuck (took) one ham and a jare of quince preserves// then starting my fire and left// and now Brother Tim the drum is beating for drill// So I will be a good Boy for this time// will right (write) Soone and I will close (enclose) you more news in my next letter// give my respects to Marrah and family// to Celley and family// to James drought and family// Michael Murphey and family and to all you think fit// tim I want you to give my love to John dillon and family in purtickler (particular) and to go to see my mother when you can// this is all at this time from you loving Brother Frank Murry// direct old point Comfort virginia 5 regiment advance geurds Co. G